shakespeare's family

Shakespeare's father was a glove maker who also held a number of public offices over a twenty year period, ranging from Borough Ale-Taster to alderman to bailiff, the highest public office in Stratford. Stratford was a market centre for the county of Warwickshire in the rural heartland of England. From about 1577, when William was 13, John Shakespeare suffered financial loss, and ceased to play a part in local government. His situation improved from 1596 until his death in 1601. Shakespeare's mother was born Mary Arden.

Shakespeare's brothers and sisters:

• Joan, born 1558, died before 1569.
• Margaret, born 1562, died 1563 (aged 5 months).
• (William, born 1564, died 1616.)
• Gilbert, born 1566, haberdasher, died 1612. (A haberdasher sells hats, clothes, thread, ribbons etc.)
• Joan, born 1569, married William Hart, died 1646.
• Anne, born 1571, died 1579.
• Richard, born 1574, occupation unknown, died 1613.
• Edmund, born 1580, "player," died 1607.
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[[image:/Library/SLT/images/Family.JPG width="309" height="221" caption="A family"]]